Micro-electromechanical system based switching module serially stackable with other such modules to meet a voltage rating

Abstract

MEMS-based switching module, as may be electrically connected to other such modules in a series circuit, to achieve a desired voltage rating is provided. A switching array may be made up of a plurality of such switching modules (e.g., used as building blocks of the switching array) with circuitry configured so that any number of modules can be connected in series to achieve the desired voltage rating (e.g., voltage scalability).

1. A system comprising at least one switching module comprising:
 switching circuitry comprising at least one micro-electromechanical system switch for selectively establishing a current path from an input line to an output line of the switch in response to a gate control signal applied to the switch; 
 control circuitry coupled to the switching circuitry to supply the gate control signal to the micro-electromechanical system switch; and 
 power circuitry coupled to the control circuitry and the switching circuitry, wherein the power circuitry comprises an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair galvanically isolated from one another, wherein a module power input signal received through the input terminal pair is electrically referenced to the input line of the switch, and a module power output signal supplied through the output terminal pair is electrically referenced to the output line of the switch so that the module output power signal is unaffected by a voltage that develops across the input and output lines of the micro-electromechanical system switch when said switch is set to an open state. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry comprises an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair galvanically isolated from one another, wherein a module control input signal received through the input terminal pair is electrically referenced to the input line of the switch, and a module control output signal supplied through the output terminal pair is electrically referenced to the output line of the switch so that the module control output signal is unaffected by the voltage that develops across the input and output lines of the micro-electromechanical system switch when said switch is set to an open state. 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry comprises a drive circuit connected to receive the module control input signal electrically referenced to the input line of the switch to generate the gate control signal applied to the switch, wherein said gate control signal is electrically referenced to the input line of the switch. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 2 , comprising a plurality of switching modules coupled to one another in a series circuit, wherein a module power output signal from a respective switching module comprises a module power input signal to a next switching module in the series circuit. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein a module control output signal from said respective switching module comprises a module control input signal to the next switching module in the series circuit. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a grading resistor coupled in parallel circuit with the switching circuitry to provide a path to a resistive leakage current therein. 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a grading capacitor coupled in parallel circuit with the switching circuitry to delay an onset of a transient recovery voltage. 
   
   
     8. The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a non-linear grading resistor coupled in parallel circuit with the switching circuitry to dissipate transient voltage surges. 
   
   
     9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the switching circuitry comprises a plurality of micro-electromechanical switches coupled to one another in a parallel circuit. 
   
   
     10. A system comprising at least one switching module comprising:
 switching circuitry comprising at least one micro-electromechanical system switch for selectively establishing a current path from an input line to an output line of the switch in response to a gate control signal applied to the switch; 
 control circuitry coupled to the switching circuitry to supply the gate control signal to the micro-electromechanical system switch, wherein the control circuitry comprises an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair galvanically isolated from one another, wherein a module control input signal received through the input terminal pair is electrically referenced to the input line of the switch, and a module control output signal supplied through the output terminal pair is electrically referenced to the output line of the switch so that the module control output signal is unaffected by a voltage that develops across the input and output lines of the micro-electromechanical system switch when said switch is set to an open state; and 
 power circuitry coupled to the control circuitry and the switching circuitry, wherein the power circuitry is configured to propagate a module power signal unaffected by the voltage that develops across the input and output lines of the micro-electromechanical system switch when said switch is set to the open state. 
 
   
   
     11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry comprises a drive circuit connected to receive the module control input signal electrically referenced to the input line of the switch to generate the gate control signal applied to the switch, wherein said gate control signal is electrically referenced to the input line of the switch. 
   
   
     12. The system of  claim 10 , comprising a plurality of switching modules coupled to one another in a series circuit, wherein a module power output signal from a respective switching module comprises a module power input signal to a next switching module in the series circuit. 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein a module control output signal from said respective switching module comprises a module control input signal to the next switching module in the series circuit. 
   
   
     14. The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a grading resistor coupled in parallel circuit with the switching circuitry to provide a path to a resistive leakage current therein. 
   
   
     15. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a grading capacitor coupled in parallel circuit with the switching circuitry to delay an onset of a transient recovery voltage. 
   
   
     16. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a non-linear grading resistor coupled in parallel circuit with the switching circuitry to dissipate transient voltage surges. 
   
   
     17. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the switching circuitry comprises a plurality of micro-electromechanical switches coupled to one another in a parallel circuit. 
   
   
     18. A system comprising a plurality of switching modules coupled to one another in a series circuit, each switching module comprising:
 switching circuitry comprising at least one micro-electromechanical system switch for selectively establishing a current path from an input line to an output line of the switch in response to a gate control signal applied to the switch; 
 control circuitry coupled to the switching circuitry to supply the gate control signal to the micro-electromechanical system switch, wherein the control circuitry comprises an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair galvanically isolated from one another, wherein a module control input signal received through the input terminal pair is electrically referenced to the input line of the switch, and a module control output signal supplied through the output terminal pair is electrically referenced to the output line of the switch so that the module control output signal is unaffected by a voltage that develops across the input and output lines of the micro-electromechanical system switch when said switch is set to an open state, wherein a module control output signal from a respective switching module comprises a module control input signal to a next switching module in the series circuit; 
 power circuitry coupled to the control circuitry and the switching circuitry, wherein the power circuitry comprises an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair galvanically isolated from one another, wherein a module power input signal received through the input terminal pair is electrically referenced to the input line of the switch, and a module power output signal supplied through the output terminal pair is electrically referenced to the output line of the switch so that the module output power signal is unaffected by the voltage that develops across the input and output lines of the micro-electromechanical system switch when said switch is set to an open state, wherein a module power output signal from a respective switching module comprises a module power input signal to the next switching module in the series circuit; and 
 a voltage grading network coupled in parallel circuit with the plurality of switching modules to provide a substantially equal voltage distribution across each of the plurality of switching modules.